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Lindqvist M, Leth-Møller KB, Linneberg A, Kull I, Bergström A, Georgellis A, Borres MP, Ekebom A, van Hage M, Melén E, Westman M. Natural course of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis from childhood to adulthood: A 20-year follow up. Allergy 2024; 79:884-893. [PMID: 37916606 DOI: 10.1111/all.15927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. There are limited prospective long-term data regarding persistency and remission of AR. The objective of this study was to investigate the natural course of pollen-induced AR (pollen-AR) over 20 years, from childhood into early adulthood. METHODS Data from 1137 subjects in the Barn/Children Allergi/Allergy Milieu Stockholm Epidemiologic birth cohort (BAMSE) with a completed questionnaire regarding symptoms, asthma, treatment with allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and results of allergen-specific IgE for inhalant allergens at 4, 8, 16 and 24 years were analyzed. Pollen-AR was defined as sneezing, runny, itchy or blocked nose; and itchy or watery eyes when exposed to birch and/or grass pollen in combination with allergen-specific IgE ≥0.35kUA/L to birch and/or grass. RESULTS Approximately 75% of children with pollen-AR at 4 or 8 years had persistent disease up to 24 years, and 30% developed asthma. The probability of persistency was high already at low levels of pollen-specific IgE. The highest rate of remission from pollen-AR was seen between 16 and 24 years (21.5%); however, the majority remained sensitized. This period was also when pollen-specific IgE-levels stopped increasing and the average estimated annual incidence of pollen-AR decreased from 1.5% to 0.8% per year. CONCLUSION Children with pollen-AR are at high risk of persistent disease for at least 20 years. Childhood up to adolescence seems to be the most dynamic period of AR progression. Our findings underline the close cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between sensitization, AR and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Lindqvist
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katja Biering Leth-Møller
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Allan Linneberg
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inger Kull
- Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonios Georgellis
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus P Borres
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agneta Ekebom
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Palynological Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marianne van Hage
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Melén
- Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marit Westman
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Asthma- and Allergy Clinic S:t Göran, Praktikertjänst, Stockholm, Sweden
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